Spasticity and Movement Disorders

Compassionate, Coordinated, and Centralized Care

Children with spasticity have tight or stiff muscles that interfere with movement. NewYork-Presbyterian's children's hospitals have dedicated programs for children with spasticity and movement disorders related to cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, dystonia, traumatic brain injury, stroke, tumors and other disorders. We take a multidisciplinary approach to your child's care, assembling a team of specialists who assess your child and provide the most effective treatments based on the latest medical advances. Our care features:

A Team Approach: Your child's healthcare team includes pediatric neurosurgeons and neurologists, physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists, orthopedic surgeons, physical and occupational therapists, nurses and nurse practitioners, orthotists, and child life specialists. We aim to consolidate your child's consultations and treatments to minimize your trips to the clinic for care. Social workers are also part of our team, connecting your child with community resources, providing guidance on insurance and other practical issues, helping to order medical equipment, offering supportive counseling for your child and your family, and providing guidance on school issues.

Nationally Ranked Children's Hospitals: NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital ranks in more pediatric specialties than any other New York metro area hospital in U.S. News & World Report's Best Children's Hospitals report. Your child's healthcare team has access to all of the various pediatric medical and surgical subspecialists who practice at NewYork-Presbyterian, ensuring that all of your child's medical needs can be addressed.

The Latest Therapies: We offer a full range of treatment options, including physical and occupational therapy, Botox and alcohol injections, baclofen pump therapy, oral medications, neurosurgical and orthopedic surgical treatments, and orthotics as needed. We perform a global team assessment to determine the most effective therapy or combination of treatments for your child.

Minimally Invasive Surgery for Spasticity: NewYork-Presbyterian is one of only three centers in the country - and the only one in the northeast - to offer minimally invasive selective dorsal rhizotomy, a type of surgery used to reduce spasticity in which the surgeon operates on the nerve roots leading to sensory nerves in the legs. The minimally invasive operation is much quicker than the standard approach; children recover faster with less pain after surgery, allowing them to begin the process of retraining their relaxed muscles with physical therapy and rehabilitation at an earlier stage.

Compassionate and Continuous Care: We take a personalized approach to your child's care, and we are there with you every step of the way. We'll continue to provide follow-up care that is tailored to each stage of your child's life as he or she grows.